Heyman’s Latest: Machado, Beltre, Devers, Morton

A recent report from USA Today’s Bob Nightengale characterized the Dodgers as the early favorite to acquire Manny Machado, and Fancred’s Jon Heyman adds the Phillies to the forefront of the race as well, citing an Orioles-connected source. Another source with connections to the Phils “suggested they are not amenable to trading their very top pitching prospects like Sixto Sanchez,” though Philadelphia is deep in minor league talent and could put together a package that doesn’t include their top pitching prospect.

Adrian Beltre has informed the Rangers he’s willing to consider trades, though he hopes to return to the Rangers in 2019. “I don’t think he’s going anywhere,” a source close to Beltre told Heyman, as it seems like the veteran third baseman would only waive his full no-trade protection for a perfect situation. Since Texas also wants Beltre back next season, a win-win situation for the team would be to get some young talent in a trade and then just re-sign Beltre in the offseason. It all depends on whether Beltre is willing to uproot himself for a couple of months to join a contender, or if he prefers to just remain in a comfortable environment in Texas. Still, it can’t hurt Beltre to at least listen to trade offers in case an ideal short-term opportunity presents itself.

Red Sox president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski recently emphasized Rafael Devers’ status as Boston’s third baseman of the present and future, and Heyman hears from a source that the Sox have no plans to deal the young slugger. Devers has hit only .239/.284/.425 with 13 homers over 328 PA this season, leading to speculation that the Sox could look for third base help, either for the short term (Boston has been linked to Adrian Beltre in the rumor mill) or perhaps with Devers himself heading elsewhere in a deal. It certainly seems way too early for the Sox to give up on Devers, who is just 21 and in the midst of his first full season in the majors. He would be a major trade chip, however, if the Red Sox did explore moving him for another major veteran acquisition.

It isn’t yet certain if Charlie Morton will pursue another contract or retire after the season, though if he does hit the open market, Heyman speculates that the veteran could earn something between $16MM and $25MM (the average annual values given to Rich Hill and Jake Arrieta the last two offseasons) next season. Morton turns 35 in November but has been fantastic since joining the Astros, and is currently in the midst of the best season of his 11-year career. It seems likely that the Astros will extend a qualifying offer to Morton after the season, as Heyman notes, and Morton certainly seems like a good candidate to accept the one-year deal in the $18MM+ range, given his love of playing in Houston.

Great leadership, great clubhouse presence, hes still better than most average hitters and defenders in his advanced age.That being said he is 38 and a rental. We could give up B to C prospects to get him , easily.

Beltre to the Red Sox would be intriguing. Boston doesn’t have a deep farm, but I don’t think it’s going to cost much to get Beltre. Sure he has been hurt. Sure his power is down. But Beltre has such a positive clubhouse presence and is a gamer who still plays outstanding defense. Will be interesting to see if he gets traded

I would LOVE to have beltre back as a Red Sox fan. He was so much fun to watch back in 2010. I still can’t believe they let him walk while doling out twice as much money for A-gon + they gave up Rizzo. The combined production of Youkilis / Middlebrooks / Sandoval / Shaw / Devers / all those other utility bums has been putrid

Sorry I should have clarified – I think Devers will be great. He just hasn’t been good this year so far. I think having Beltre to help mentor him would only help, with Beltre seeing time at DH on days that JD is out or in LF. I don’t see why JD couldn’t play the outfield in almost every home game personally.

Joshua you realize the Redsox got two picks as compensation for Beltre right? Letting go of free agents then was a no brainer move. Took GMs a decade to figure out to stop giving up 1st round picks for those overpaid guys and now we have dumb people are suggesting collusion again…

I want Devers NEVER to be traded. He’s a young kid and deserves time to grow up, into a power hitter n good in the field. He’s had flashes of greatness, just like any young kid not surrounded top to bottom power hitters. DD please do NOT trade him.

Never say never, just don’t think he’s going anywhere ATM unless they are offered way above his worth and his ceiling is pretty high.

This isn’t some Will Middlebrooks clone that never walks and swings at every off speed pitch ever thrown to him, including at the MiLB level so many Sox fans were in love with a few years back Devers has some K-Zone knowledge at 21YO and his glove has improved as the year has moved past early may.

He will be just fine at third he is plenty agile he is just very young and makes silly errors he will be just fine. I have watched nearly all Red Sox games and while I don’t think he will be a gold Glover he he will be very passable at third. He is only 21 we won’t even be having this conversation a couple years from now he will be at least average defensively at third by then.

Have you watched him on a daily basis? I’m guessing no I have and yes he makes silly mistakes but the skills are there and I’m willing to bet he is third baseman two years from now with at least average skills.

Funny how ppl that never watch him play, but look at number of errors and think they know he’s not agile, nor a decently fast runner?

he steals bases and can lay it down on the line to take away hard grounders several steps to his left as good as many. His errors (many) have been throws and hurry up kind, but then when many ppl here never watched him on a consistent basis (if at all) and just judge how good he is on errors made mostly before early May? Well.. Those fans must be omnipotent Bruin.

I agree JS I don’t comment about dodger prospects or players that much because I just don’t see them much. It is obvious to me that most people who comment about Devers athleticism just haven’t watched him play.

Well Bruin1012…he did make a good play last night where he did move well….but listening to most of the Sox commenters, they pretty much all say that he’s a big man and he’ll need to at some point move over to first.
Lacking agility to me doesn’t mean he isn’t a good athlete or that he can’t make the exceptional play.

Made another excellent athletic defensive play in the game today. I’m not sure what Red Sox announcers you are listening too but Haven’t heard that and the eye test says he has mental lapses but he is plenty capable of playing at least average at third.

Phony leak by O’s that Phils may be willing to part with its top P prospect for Machado rental. In offseason WSox were the falsely claimed serious suitor bc they have a lot of high potential prospect arms. Wasn’t true. Good GMs don’t fall for this and suddenly offer a crazy return for rental position player. DeGrom or Noah for Mets can cash in bc they can swing a playoff run n aren’t rentals.

“Indeed, it would be surprising to see the Phillies move Sanchez (a consensus top-26 prospect in the sport) for a rental player like Machado, yet Sanchez could only be on the table to obtain a player with more years of control.”

Why does his arbitrary prospect ranking matter in terms of a trade rental of an elite player? Gleyber Torres was higher than #26 when he was traded for Chapman. Machado absolutely could add more value than Chapman did to the Cubs.

The Phillies aren’t winning anything this year. Trading their best pitching prospect in years for a rental, doesn’t make sense. If they had a real shot, trading the future makes sense. They can sign him in the off-season, save all prospects, and hopefully be more a threat next year.

Despite your “gut feeling” the Phillies currently have a postseason spot and ownership and management nearly always throw out all “rebuilding” gameplans as soon as humanly possible. Machado might help them to the World Series this year no matter how hard you want to clutch onto your “B-but we’re REBUILDINGGG” narrative.

They really don’t need more help than Machado, that should be enough to get them to the postseason and all the other NL teams aren’t exactly looking totally dominant, so he really could make all the difference.

There’s not “gut feeling” about the Phillies’ chances; they’re just simply not good enough. They have overachieved to be where they are, and there are cracks and holes all over the place. The defense—its alignment and results—have been atrocious, the lineup is maddeningly inconsistent, and their pitching isn’t as good as it’s been made out to be. Behind Nola it’s either been very good or very bad. No one, inside or outside of the organization, can feel confident that this is a rotation that can carry the team through October. And then there’s the bullpen…it’s not even July and the manager has overused and abused his bullpen that they’re all gassed.

The Phillies do not have what it takes this year, Machado or not. sacrificing talented prospects for a rental that will only cost money next year (getting him now won’t lower his FA cost) is foolish.

I agree, it’s quite plausible that they finish 3rd in that division. The Nats should pull away at some point and the Braves, although young as well, are already better and further along than the Phils.

Theo knew that 2016 was the Cub’s year and Chapman was the piece that would put them over the top, and he was right. He said at the time that Torres was going to be a very good player, but he was blocked by Russell and Baez and that to get a closer like Chapman, he had to obviously give up a substantial prospect or break up his young core that was already graduated into the bigs, he obviously wasn’t gonna do that. And he was right, a couple years later, Torres is a good young player.

The 2018 Phillies aren’t at that level yet, it will be a year or maybe even two before they MIGHT be legit contenders.

Klentak tossed this teenage middle infielder who had garnered attention in GCL into the Ken Giles deal.

The Phillies have some more rookie ball high upside kids that Klentak might be willing to include along with Sixto and then he’ll join the broadcast booth with a “What me worry?” kid look on his face and brag about his big move.

Carlos de la Cruz is a six foot eight inch monster of an outfielder with a ceiling that reaches into low space orbit. Phillies fans can kiss him goodbye.

Where does he fit with the Stros? They’re quite stacked at 3B down in the farm system. Only slot would be DH in my opinion, but Gattis seems to have gotten his act together; so not sure there’s a spot for him.

The Dodgers would have to be really creative to pull off a Machado deal financially. After consecutive years of being repeat tax offenders, Friedman had to pull a lot of strings to finally get under the luxury tax so they can reset for next winter. They’re already up against it now, unless they can get Baltimore to take back salary, I don’t think they’ll be seriously in on Machado, that’s why LA was so quiet last winter.